Fancy stroking a gorgeous cat while you sip a cup of tea and nibble on some cake? This could be a reality if Karen Berger’s idea goes to plan. The Camden resident is looking to expand her Fairdinkum Pet Supplies store on Argyle Street into the premises next door and launch a rescue cat cafe. The business-owner recently put up a sign in her store to gauge interest in the plan and was overwhelmed with the response. “I think it’s pretty clear that people want to see a cat cafe,” she said. “It’s gone a little bit viral on social media.” Ms Berger is a rescuer and foster carer for Campbelltown North charity DABS Rescue and Rehoming. She cares for roughly eight cats at a time in her in-store cattery, as well as emergency care of injured kittens and her own personal cats. She said visitors to the store loved spending time with the furry felines in the cattery. “Some of our older visitors have walkers and can’t fit inside the cattery to play with the cats,” Ms Berger said. “So if we had a larger space they could sit in a cosy chair and have the cats on their lap while they enjoyed a cup of tea.” Ms Berger said the cat cafe plan was only in its early stages but she hoped it would come to fruition soon. Cat cafes originated in Taiwan and became popular in Japan before spreading across the globe. Sydney currently has a cat cafe in Surry Hills and a service offering pop-up cat cafes. As legislation forbids food preparation within 10 metres of cats, all food to be served in the Ms Berger’s cat cafe would be pre-made – primarily cakes and nibblies donated from other Camden businesses. Customers would pay $10 to spend time with the cats and would pay extra for a bite to eat and warm drink. Ms Berger said the funds would be used firstly to cover rent with all surplus funds going directly to DABS Rescue and Rehoming, so the charity could continue providing stellar care for abandoned or surrendered cats. Fairdinkim Pet Supplies is celebrating its 10th birthday this month. Ms Berger said celebrations would also include fundraisers for DABS. The store will have specials from November 22-24. There will also be cupcakes, raffles, face-painting and even a visit from Paw Patrol. For more information, call Fairdinkum Pet Supplies on 4655 5342.

Camden store-owner wants to open ‘cat cafe’

Fancy stroking a gorgeous cat while you sip a cup of tea and nibble on some cake?

This could be a reality if Karen Berger’s idea goes to plan.

The Camden resident is looking to expand her Fairdinkum Pet Supplies store on Argyle Street into the premises next door and launch a rescue cat cafe.

The business-owner recently put up a sign in her store to gauge interest in the plan and was overwhelmed with the response.

“I think it’s pretty clear that people want to see a cat cafe,” she said.

“It’s gone a little bit viral on social media.”

Ms Berger is a rescuer and foster carer for Campbelltown North charity DABS Rescue and Rehoming.

She cares for roughly eight cats at a time in her in-store cattery, as well as emergency care of injured kittens and her own personal cats.

She said visitors to the store loved spending time with the furry felines in the cattery.

“Some of our older visitors have walkers and can’t fit inside the cattery to play with the cats,” Ms Berger said.

“So if we had a larger space they could sit in a cosy chair and have the cats on their lap while they enjoyed a cup of tea.”

Ms Berger said the cat cafe plan was only in its early stages but she hoped it would come to fruition soon.

Cat cafes originated in Taiwan and became popular in Japan before spreading across the globe.

Sydney currently has a cat cafe in Surry Hills and a service offering pop-up cat cafes.

As legislation forbids food preparation within 10 metres of cats, all food to be served in the Ms Berger’s cat cafe would be pre-made – primarily cakes and nibblies donated from other Camden businesses.

Customers would pay $10 to spend time with the cats and would pay extra for a bite to eat and warm drink.

Ms Berger said the funds would be used firstly to cover rent with all surplus funds going directly to DABS Rescue and Rehoming, so the charity could continue providing stellar care for abandoned or surrendered cats.

Fairdinkim Pet Supplies is celebrating its 10th birthday this month.

Ms Berger said celebrations would also include fundraisers for DABS.

The store will have specials from November 22-24.

There will also be cupcakes, raffles, face-painting and even a visit from Paw Patrol.